Tuesday, June 18, 2013

When I Get Older...

The remarkable Paul McCartney celebrates
64 and 7 today. Not only does the former Beatle’s musical output and stamina
continue to amaze, but 50 years after his first visit to the United States his
appearances around the world still make headlines. While it’s easy to find out
the salient facts of Mr. McCartney’s life, his role as co-author of a
children’s book may be less well-known.High in the Clouds (2005), Mr. McCartney's debut effort in the field of children's picture books was written with Geoff Dunbar and Philip Ardagh, and illustrated by Mr.
Dunbar.

When Wirral the Squirrel is forced to
leave his woodland home, destroyed by the expansion plans of the evil Gretsch,
he vows to find the fabled land of Animalia, where all the animals are said to
live in freedom and without fear.

Aided and abetted by Froggo the hot
air-ballooning frog, Wilhamina the plucky red squirrel, and Ratsy the
streetwise rodent, Wirral’s personal quest turns into a full-blown plan to save
enslaved animals everywhere – a plan which is fraught with danger.

Mr. McCartney with a furry friend. Even the Internet couldn't
supply me with a photo of PM with a squirrel. Special thanks to
RD for bringing this image to my attention.

While High in the Clouds may not stand the test of time as great
children’s literature, I can’t help liking a story in which the animals triumph
against greed and woodland creatures are described as “Dotted among the
branches of the trees, like notes on sheet music…”